Online Innovation Intermediaries as a Critical Bridge between Patients and Healthcare Organizations

In healthcare, a promising direction for innovation lies in harnessing the innovation potential of patients. Web-based platforms have created a new and powerful route to open innovation in healthcare. In a sector where knowledge resources within organizational boundaries are limited, this study is focused on understanding how online innovation intermediaries (OIIs) in healthcare help to transfer relevant knowledge towards innovating healthcare organizations. Through a qualitative design, we collected data through 23 interviews with CEOs/founders from OII organizations across eight countries. This paper uncovers what OIIs in healthcare actually do when they engage in co-creation activities with the ecosystem of stakeholders. We suggest there are four distinct types of OII in healthcare. OIIs can help healthcare organizations to adopt appropriate strategies and practices to embrace consumers as partners in the development and delivery of innovative healthcare products and services.